Collapsible hand bag



July 26, 1927. 1,636,838

M. F. ROSER COLLAPSIBLE HAND BAG Filed April 15. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

Mmmas E Eosaz ATTORNEY.

. 1,636,838 y 2 7' M. F. ROSER GOLLAPS IBLE HAND BAG Filed April 15,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN! '[IN TOR. Mm-HmsF. Roam Patented July 26,1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATHIAS I. ROSER, OF DETROIT, .IIOH IGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE HAN D BAG.

Application filed April 15, 1925. Serial Io. 23,281.

into its various forms and securely locked in the various forms to whichmove Another object of the invention the provision of a hand bag of thisclass, havmg a detachable folio packet adapted for use as a reinforcingbottom, and dprovided with flaps for retaining the han bag 1n distendedposition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hand bagcollapsible in the manner described, and adapted for folding into aplurality of shapes, so as to provide a hand-bag of various sizesaccording to the uses of the user.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to theaccompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in distended form, withthe cover flap open,

tion folded to Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective'view of the inventionshowing its use as a low hand bag,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspect ve view of the invention in closedposltion, illustrating a larger hand bag,

Fig. 4 1s a perspective view of the invention folded into a compactform, to provide a portfolio,

Fi 5 is a sectional view taken on substantially line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the detachable packet device,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bag with parts removed,

Fig. 8 is a perspective v1ew with parts broken away, illustrating theretaining means for retaining the bag in distended form, Fig. 9 is aperspective view of the invenprovide a portfolio showmg it in openpositlon,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a locking device used in the invention,

11 is a fra entary perspective view of a remforcmg ocking device used inthe invention, I

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on sub- D stant ally line 12-12 ofFig. 11, in inverted position,

F1g. 13 is afra mentary side elevational view of a modifie form oflocking device with parts in section,

Flg. 14 is a sectional view taken on substantlally line 1414 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a fra mentary sectional view lllustrating a modifi means forthe distending fla s,

F g. 16 1s a further modifizd form of the retammg means illustrated inFig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fra entary side .elevational View of the oint s section.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises a hand-bag having afront wall 19 and a rear wall 20, to which is attached the cover flap21. End walls 22 and 23 are revided, each of which is adapted for foling I on the lines 24, 24, 25, 25, 26, 26 and 27. The bag may be madefrom leather, as shown 1n Flg. 5 and provided with a lining 28. Ifdesired, the lining 28 may be dispensed with,

according to the tastes of the purchaser or U manufacturer. As shown inFig. 1, there is extending alon the upper ed e of the end wall 23, arein orcingrod 29, fiaving an enlargement 30 at one end thereof, whichis pivotally connected to an enlargement 31,

formed on the reinforcing rod 32, these rods being positioned in sleevesformed in the end wall 23. As clearly seen in Fig. 12, one end 33 of theenlargement 30 is offset, so as to form a lock for the enlar rods 29 and32 are in a igning position, so :hat the bag will be retained in itsopen posi- In the form shown in Fig. 2, the side walls 19 and 20 arefolded inwardly toward each 1.

various sized hand bags from the same side II and end walls efiectedmerely because of the position of folding.

ed form of the retaining 7 own in Fig: 12 partly in ement 31, when theDI lines 24 and 24', the I In Fig. 4, the hand bag is illustrated as aportfolio case, the bottom being folded upwardly inwardly after the endwalls 22 and 23 have been folded inwardly on the line 27. Extendingaroundthe hand bag are straps 34 and 35 which pass through loops formedby the straps 36 and 37. These straps 36 and 37 are pivotally fastenedat one end and adapted at their opposite end for snapping intolOOP-fOIIIliIlg position shown by the strap 36 in Fig. 1. When the handbag is folded into the form shown in Fig. 4, the straps 36 and 37 may beloosened at one end, and snapped onto the rear wall 20, so as to retainthe bottom of the portfolio in compact form. In this way, these straps36 and 37 serve the double function indicated. In Fig. 2, I have shownthe hand bag without'the straps 36 and 37, although it is apparent thatthey may be utilized on the hand bags shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, ifdesired. For use with the hand bag, I have provided a packet which has amain body portion 38 provided with the flap 39 having a swingableextension 40, which is adapted to engage between a band 41 and anextension 42 formed on the flap 43, which projects from the opposite endof the main body 38. As shown in Fig. 9, this packet may be placed inthe portfolio and as shown in Fig. 5, its width is less than the heightof the front and rear walls 19 and 20, so that it may be, whenpositioned in the hand bag, extended into the form shown in Fig. 6, asis clearly seen in Fig. 5, to provide a holder for papers and otherdocuments. it have also provided in the interior ofthe bag, as shown inFig. 5 and Fig. 1, an elastic band 44, which may be used for retainingpapers in upright position in the bag, or in the portfolio.

As already described, the rods 29 and 32 will serve to retain the bag 20in its distended or open position, as shown in Fig. 1. In order toretain the front and rear wall in extended position, as shown in Figs.1, 2, and 3, I-have provided retaining means, which are variouslyconstructed, although operating in substantially the same manner. InFig. 8, l have shown a flap 45, which is hingedly connected at one endto the rear wall 20 of the hand bag in any desired manner. lhis flap 45is provided with an extension 46, which is foldable upon the flap 45 andso arranged that, when extended transversely of the hand bag, it lies inengagement with the wall 22, to retain the front and rear walls inseparate position. A

similarly constructed and mounted flap 45 is provided with the foldableextension 46' adapted to extend transversely of the bag and inengagement with the end wall 23s In this way, the flaps 45 and 45 may beswung to either the transversely extending position, as shown by 45 inFig. 8, or to the longitudinally extending position, as shown by 45 inFig. 8. When moved to the lon itudinally extended position, the bag may.e folded, adapted for use as a portfolio case, as shown in Fig. 4 andthe flaps 45' and 45, with their extensions, are closely positionedagainst the rear wall, so as to render no obstruction.

When folded into the transversely extending position, the extensions 46and 46 may be folded upon the flap portions 45 and 45, in which case thehand bag shown in Fig. 2 may be constructed. When the extensions 46 and46 are in upright position, as shown in Fig. 8, a form of the hand bagshown in Fig. 3 becomes possible. With the swingingly mounted flaps 45and 45', I have provided a locking means which comprises a blank 47,havin a tongue 48 pressed therefrom and provi ed, at its ends, withbifurcations 49 and 49' which are struck so as to lie slightly out ofthe lane of the main body of the strip 47. truck from the tongue 48, at

its outer end, is another tongue 50, which is slightly displacedrelatively to the bifurcations 49 and 49', so that the tongue 50 lies ina separate plane from the bifurcations 49 and 49. These fastening meansare mounted on the front or rear walls, so that, when the flaps 45 and45 are swung into transversely extending position, they will engagebehind the bifurcations 49 and 49, these bifurcations serving to retainthe flaps in operative position to maintain the bag in distendedposition. One of these fasteners is fastened to engage the flaps 45 and45 and another is positioned slightly above, as shown in Fig. 7, toengage the extensions 46 and 46. Vfhen, however, the extensions arefolded upon the flaps and swung to transversely extending position toretain the hand bag in distended form, the flaps 45 and 45 will engagebehind the bifurcations 49 and 49 and the extensions will engage thetongue 50. these extensions, as shown in the drawings being of slightlyless width than the flaps 45 and 45. In order to release the flaps andtheir extensions from their operative position, it is but necessary topress the tongue 50 inwardly to permit the disengagement.

in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, I have shown a modified form of distendingmeans, comprising a metal strip 51, which is connected to either therear or front wall of the hand bag and has swingingly connected to itsend, so as to lie in engagement with one of the end walls of the bag, ametallic strip 52, which has an opening 53 formed in one end, to rideover the tongue 54 mounted upon a metal strip 55, which is mounted uponeither the front or rear wall, opposite to the wall upon which the strip51 is mounted. The construction is such that, when the metal strip 52 isswung into position at right angles to the strip 51, the front and rearwalls will be held in distended position, as shown in Fig. 1, the strip52 being rigid and extendof holding the fo (1 ing between the front andrear walls. When the strip 52 is swung into parallel position relativelyto the strip 51, the collapslng of the bag may take place.

In Fig. 15, I have shown a modified form of structure for retaining thedistending flaps in position. In this form, the side wall of the bag isbuilt up as at 56, to provide with the end wall of the bag, a channelfor engaging the end of the flap 57, the flaps being positioned behindthe built up portion 56 at their ends.

In Fig. 16, I have shown a further modified form in which a hand bag,itself, is provided with a pocket 58, extending vertically to the bottomin which the flap 57 may engage.

As shown in Fig. 7, the main body 38 of the packet may be used as afalse bottom for the bag, the flaps 39 and 4:3,with their re spectiveextensions 40 and 42 serving to act as the distending flaps, to retainthe bag in the position shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 1. These flaps arefastened by the fasteners already described, and shown in Figs. 10, 15and 16 and may serve the function of the flaps previously described.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7, that I have provided a pocket 59which may be dis ensed with, if desired. This pocket 59 is urtherprovided with a pocket 60 for the reception of small articles.

The device is, of course, provided with a handle 61, which may be of anydesired structure, and with the lock 62, which is fastened to aco-operating part mounted on the adjustable strap 63, so that, when thebag is distended, the locking device may be utilized as well as when itis in the compact form shown in Fig. 4.

It is thus seen that I have provided a handbag which is adaptable forperforming various functions and which is equipped with distending meanswhich are efficient for the purpose and require a minimum of space inthe handbag, so as to permit the carrying of a maximum amount ofmaterial in a handbag or travelin case. It is apparent that manymodificatlons ma be made in the inventlon, particularl re ating-tothemethod in compact form, as shown in Fi 4.

Havin tins described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A hand he of the class described, com-. prising a folda le bottom andfoldable side and end walls, for permitting the folding of the bag intoa form to provide aportfolio; a separable member. having a main bodypgrtion substantiall ttom of said hand ag and adapted to lie inengagement therewith, when placed in said hand bag; flaps swingablmounted on opposite si es 0 'said main dy portion, said size as theinterior of the same size as the flaps being jointly of greater len hthan said main body portion and folda le upon themselves, said flapsbeing adapted for I raising into an upright position, when positioned,in said hand bag end walls of said hand bag in distended form, and forpermitting the cover of said hand bag to be closed, said flaps beingfoldable upon themselves, to permit the closing of said hand bag toprovide a. hand bag of different sizes; clips mounted on said side wallsfor engaging said flaps when extended to upright position, said clipsbeing adapted for engaging a double thickness of said flaps, when saidflaps are folded upon themselves.

2. A hand bag of the class described having a foldable bottom andfoldable side and end walls, to permit the folding of said hand bag intocompact form to provide a portfolio case; a separable member having amain body portion substantially the same size as the interior of thebottom portion of said hand bag, and adapted for lying in engagementtherewith, when placed therein; a joint flap mounted on each side ofsaid main body portion in swingable relation, and adapted for foldingupon itself, said flaps being adapted for extending at right angles tothe bottom of said hand bag for maintaining the side walls in distendedform, said flaps when folded. upon themselves, while projected at rightangles to the bottom, permitting the closin of said hand bag to form asmaller hand hag than when said flaps are extended throughout their lenh.

- 3. A hand bag of the class described having a foldable bottom andfoldable side and end walls, to permit the folding of said for retainingthe .hand bag into compact form 'to provide a portfolio case; aseparable member having a main body portion substantially the same thebottom portion of said hand bag, and ada ted for lying in engagementtherewith, w en placed therein; a oint flap mounted on each side of saidmain body portion in swingable relation, and adapted for folding uponitself, said flaps being adapted for extending at right angles to thebottom of said hand bag for maintaining the side walls in distendedform, said flaps, when folded upon themselves, while projected at rightangles to the bottom, permitting the closing of said hand bag to form asmaller hand bag than when said flaps are extended throughout theirlength, the flaps being adapted for overlapping, when folded inwardly.4soward each other, and adapted for positioning in a portfolio providedto form a separate compartment therein.

In testimony whereof, I have signed the foregoin s ecification atDetroit, in the county of ayne and State of Michigan.

MATHIASF. ROSER.

